Electric heater.



J. PORZEL.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I4. I9I5.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Q N M ON QN luvs NT [3 R WWW DY WM VATTURNEYLEI J. PORZEL.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATION man MAYH, 1915.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ATTEIRNEYE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH PORZEL, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

Application filed May 14, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH PORZEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Heaters, of which the following is a specification. 7

This invention relates to an electri heater. In heaters of this character, as heretofore constructed, the heat units generated by the same for a certain watt consumption were emitted at a very high temperature by reason of the small superficial area which was exposed to a comparatively small volume of air so that the entire body of air in which this heater was located would be heated very slowly and'not uniformly.

The object of the present invention is to utilize the electric current more economically and distribute the heat units more uniformly throughout the entire body of air in the room as well as to secure a more rapid distribution of the same thanwould be possible with a plain wire heater. With this end in view my improved heater consists essentially in providing the electric wire resistance with an extended radiating surface v which may be mounted either directly or indirectly on the wire resistance so as to emit the electrical heat units into a larger volume of air within a given'time and a certain watt consumption and thereby secure a more uniform heating of the whole body of air in the room and also causing the temperature ofthe air next to the ceiling and the floor of the room to be maintained constantly more nearly alike than has been possible with a plain wire heater having no extended surfaces. 1 I

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of one form of electrical wire resistance heater embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of'the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the method of wiring the heater for the purpose of increasing or decreasing its heating effect. Fig. 6 is a detached vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale, of one form of extended radiating surface for distributing or emitting the heat from an electrical resistance wire in accordance with my improvements. Figs. 7 and 8 are similar Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Serial No. 28,041.

views showing other forms of these radiating surfaces which embody my invention.

Similar characters of reference indlcate corresponding parts throughout the several views. x

Although the. purpose of my invention may be accomplished in a variety of ways it is essential in, all instances that the electric wire resistance be provided with extended heat radiating or emitting surfaces which may be mounted either directly or indirectly on the wire resistance s0 asv to carry away the heat into a large volume of air and thereby secure a more rapid circulation and distribution of the heated air in the room in which the heater is located. The organization of the heater shown in Figs. 1-6 is but one of many which may be devised for accomplishing this purpose in the manner contemplated and as there shown the same is constructed as follows:

1 represents a pluralityof heat radiating plates which are arranged parallel in a vertical tier or row oneabove the other and in an inclined position and also separated from one another so as to form a plurality of inclined air passages or conduits 2 between the several radiating plates. The same may be constructed of any suitable material but preferably of 'copper or an alloy of the same on account of the high heat conductivity of this metal. Upon heating these plates the air in contact with the surfaces thereof passes upwardly and escapes at the elevated edges of the plates or upper ends of the air passages and air of lower temperature replaces the same by en-,

tering these air passages at the lower ends of the same so that a constant movement of the air in: an upward direction in large quantities occurs while the heater is in operation.

Each of these heat radiating plates is associated with one or more electric resistance wires 3 so as to receive the heat from the latter while the currentof electricity is flowing through the same. As shown in Figs. 3, 4i and 6 this is accomplished by providing each radiating plate or web with a plurality of tubular holders 4 which may be formed integrally with the plate from a sheet of metal in any suitable 01' approved manner. These holders are preferably, though not necessarily, arranged lengthwise or. the upper side of the radiating plate,

"of the radiating plate.

Upon causing an electric current to flow through this wire resistance member the heat generated by the same is transmitted to the radiating plate through the medium of the electric insulating but heat conducting separator 5 which is interposed between this wire and plate, and owing to the extended surface which this plate presents to the adjacent air a large volume of the latter abstracts the heat rapidly from the Wire so that the air is caused to circulate more quickly and enable the entire body of air in the room to be heated at a substantially uniform temperature in less time than has been possible in heaters heretofore constructed in which the air came in contact only with the resistance member having a comparatively small area which only caused.

a small quantity of the air to become heated to a higher temperature but without rapidly heating the entire volume of air at a substantial uniform temperature. I

In electric heaters as heretofore constructed an intense heating of the air immediately adjacent to the heater'was secured while the air in parts of the room remote from the heater was of a comparatively low temperature while in my improved heater the initial heating of the air is not as highsas that heretofore obtained but a larger volume of air is heated and a more rapid circulation of the same in the room is obtained so that the entire body of air in the room is of substantially the same temperature and therefore more economical and beneficial results are obtained.

The radiating plates may be supported in any suitable manner but as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6 the same are preferably engaged at their upper and lower edges in seats, recesses or notches 7 formed in the opposing sides of two sets of upright supporting bars 8 which are arranged on 013- posite sides of the tier of radiating plates and resistance Wires. At their upper and lower ends these two sets of supporting bars are secured to upper and lower horizontal heads 9, 10 which are arranged lengthwise of the plates, each of these horizontal heads being preferably constructed of metal in the form of channels which have their concave sides facing each other, as shown in Figs.

heads.

' clined finishing plates or slats 14: are mount-' ed on theinner sides of the lower parts of one set oflupright bars which face the un derside of the lowermost radiating plate and a set of similar finishing plates or slats 15 are arranged on the inner side of the upper parts of the other set of upright bars opposite the upper side of theuppermost radi-' ating plate, each of these finishing plates being preferably secured-at one of its edges in an inclined notch or recess 16 in the re spective. upright bars similar to the manner in which the radiating plates are mounted on these bars so that the finishing plates are parallel with the radiating plates.

At opposite endsrof the tier of radiating plates, finishing plates and horizontal heads,

are arranged two upright standards 17 the bodies of which are constructed substantially of channel-shaped form with their concave sides facing each other and receiving the opposite ends of the tier of radiating and finishing plates and thehorizontal These parts when thus assembled may be held in this position by any suitable means, for instance, by the means which are shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3 and which comprise downwardly projecting lugs 18 arranged at opposite ends of the upper horizontal head, upwardly projecting lugs 19 arranged at opposite ends of the lower horizontal head and screws or bolts 20 connecting these lugs with the adjacent upper and lower parts of the standards.

At their lower ends these standards are provided with legs or feet 21 whereby the same may rest on the floor of the room and at their} upper ends the same are provided with handles 22 for convenience in transporting the same from place to place when desired.

F or the sake of reducing the weight of the radiator each of the standards is provided in its central or body portion with an opening 23 which is preferably bridged by means of a panel 24c of sheet metal which 1s secured to the inner or concave side of the respective standard, the latter being preferably made of cast metal. This panel is preferably arranged between the opposite ends of the horizontal heads, radiating and finishing plates and the standards and is secured in place by the same bolts which connect the standards and the horizontal heads, thereby simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of manu facture. By this means the radiator is not only reduced in weight but the appearance of the same is also materially improved.

The electric resistance wires of the several radiating plates may be electrically connected with each other in any suitable manner but it is preferable to so connect the same that more or less of the surface of each radiating plate may be rendered effective in accordance with the amount of heat which is desired. A suitable means for carrying this purpose into effect is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5 in which the four resistance wires of a plurality of radiating plates are so connected that one wire of each plate is connected in series with a corresponding wire'in each of the remaining radiating plates, and one end of these several circuits is connected to a common terminal which is arranged on one side of a. source of electricity such as a dynamo, while the other ends of these several circuits terminate in fixed contacts 26, 27, 28, 29

which are adapted to be engaged by a movable contact or switch lever 30 arranged in the electric circuit on the opposite side of the dynamo or electric source and is constructed to engage one or more of said fixed contacts of theseiseveral series of circuits and connect a greater or-lesser number of them in multiple. It follows from this construction that when the switch lever 30 engages one of the fixed contacts that a current of electricity will flow through only one resistance wire of each radiating plate and cause each of the latter to heat a minimum amount of air coming in contact with the same and by shifting this lever so as to engage additional fixed contacts it will be seen that additional resistance wires of each radiating plate will be placed in circuit and thereby increase the air heating capacity of the several plates accordingly, the maximum efficiency being obtained when the switch lever engages all of the fixed contacts, and places all of the wires of the several radiating plates in circuit.

As shown in Fig. 6 the holders on the radiating plates which receive the resistance wires and their electric insulating and heat conducting separator are constructed in the form of tubes which are cylindrical and completely inclose the companion resistance wires and separators. If desired these holders for the resistance wires and sepa-. rators may be constructed in the form of partial tubes 31 on one section 32 of a radiating plate and another section 33 of this plate may be applied to the first mentioned section so as to close the slots or open sides of the partial tubes 31 and thereby comthe heat is transferred to the air by a comparatively large or extended area of radiating surface so that the heat generated in the resistance wires is carried away rapidly and transmitted at a comparatively low temperature to a large volume of air, instead of only heating a small quantity of air at a comparatively high temperature and re stricting the distribution of the heated air as is the case in electric heaters in which the an only engages with wires.

My lmproved heater therefore renders it possible to heat the entire body of air in a room much more'rapidly and at a sub stantially uniform temperature which is more desirable and comfortable and permits of greater economy and utility in the consumption of electricity.

I claim as my invention:

1. An, electrical heater comprising a plurality of inclined plates arranged in a vertical tier and separated from each other by intervening inclined air passages and each plate having an extended radiating surface,

means for electrically heating said plates, and means for supporting said plates comprising upright supporting bars arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of said tier and provided on their opposing sides with recesses which receive the longitudinal edges of said plates.

2. An electrical heater comprising a plurality of inclined plates arranged in a vertical tier and separated from each other by intervening inclined air passages and each plate having an extended radiating surface, means for electrically heating said plates, and means for supporting said plates comprising an upright supporting bar arranged on opposite longitudinal sides. of said tier and engaging with opposite longitudinal edges of said plates, and upper and lower heads connected with the upper and lower ends of said bars.

3. An electrical heater comprising a plurality of inclined plates arranged in a vertical tier and separated from each other by intervening inclined air passages and each plate having an extended radiating surface, means for electrically heating said plates, and means for supporting said plates comprising upright supporting bars arranged on opposite lon itudinal sides: of said tier edges of said plates, upper and lower heads connected with the upper and lower ends 'of said bars, and upright, standards connected with opposite ends of said heads.

4. An electrical heater comprising a plurality of inclined plates arranged in a vertical tier and separated from each other by intervening inclined air passages and each plate having an extended radiating surface, means for electrically heating said plates, and means for supporting said plates comprising upright supporting bars arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of said tier and engaging with opposite longitudinal edges of said plates, upper and lower heads connected with the upper and lower ends of said bars, upright standards connected with opposite ends of said heads and each provided with an opening in its side, and panels arranged on the inner sides of standards across the openings thereof.

5. An electrical heater comprising a plurality of inclined plates arranged in a vertical tier and separated from each other by intervening inclined air passages and each plate having an extended radiating surface, means for electricallv heating said plates, and means for supporting said plates comprising upright supporting bars arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of said tier and engaging with opposite longitudinal edges of said plates, upper and lower heads connected with the upper and lower ends of said bars, and upright standards connected with opposite ends of said heads and each provided at its lower end with supporting legs and at its upper end with a handle. V

JOSEPH PORZEL. 

